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Welcome to my blog about health, nursing, caring, kindness and positive change. Our world is full of such negative influences and bad choices, today is the day to make a positive change both physically and mentally in your life.

ERNursesCare is a blog incorporating my nearly 30 years of experience in the healthcare field with my passion for helping others, I want it to encourage others with injury prevention, healthy living, hard hitting choices, hot topics and various ramblings from my unique sense of humor. Come along and enjoy your journey......

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Friday, June 27, 2014

How To Avoid Falling, Slipping and Tripping #safetymonth

Have you yourself fallen, tripped or slipped lately? It is a scary feeling that I myself experienced just this last April. I fell in the parking lot at the grocery store, simply because I was busy talking and did not pay attention to where I was walking. My left leg was black and blue for weeks, the pain was aggravating to say the least. I was very lucky and did not break anything, but my pride that day.

Many of us are living with or caring for our parents or grandparents as we journey into another realm of our busy lives. Grandparents are such precious treasures to us , not to mention the bonds they create with our children. Keeping them safe, just as they did for us, must be a priority.Did you know that falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional death? Not many people do. Since June is National Safety Month, our friends at the Recall Center have made it their mission to educate and encourage safe behavior with hopes to help prevent slips, trips, and falls.

UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES

The first step toward preventing falls is understanding what causes them.

Spills are a significant hazard, particularly in places like kitchens or bathrooms with tile floors that become slick when wet. Spills can also be difficult to see.

Weather hazards such as snow and ice, or even just rainwater, create slippery surfaces and uncertain footing. Snow or ice falling from a rooftop can hit or startle someone, potentially causing a fall.

Wet or oily floors, whether due to a spill, water from the tub, snow or rain tracked into the house, or something else, can be dangerously slippery.

Loose or uneven flooring, including loose tile or the unsecured edge of a carpet or area rug, can catch a foot and cause someone to stumble.

Dim lighting makes it difficult to see objects to avoid, particular for individuals with declining eyesight.

Clutter places hazards in the way of people who may be at risk of falling. Shoes, pet toys, or virtually anything else can cause someone to trip, and even a small stumble is enough to cause a fall, especially in someone whose mobility and reflexes are limited by age.

KNOW WHERE TO LOOK

The next step is knowing places where hazards most often occur, and where seniors are most likely to encounter them.

Living spaces, because they are heavily trafficked, carry a variety of risks. Bedrooms and hallways may be prone to clutter or loose carpets, while bathrooms and kitchens often have spills or other liquids on the floor. Pay special attention to stairs, as they can be difficult for seniors to navigate even under ideal conditions and can also lead to the most damaging falls.

Outdoor walkways can be especially hazardous. They are prone to buildups of ice and snow and may become slick with rain. Heavily trafficked routes pose even more of a risk–not only will seniors encounter potential hazards more often, familiarity can lead to carelessness.

Garages, often used as a catch-all storage space, are often cluttered and badly lit, a dangerous combination.

Gardens and yards, while an excellent source of exercise and fresh air, can be risky too. Grass and mud can conceal uneven ground, tree roots, garden implements left outside, or other potential causes of a fall. And while a fall on grass may not seem as bad as one on asphalt, it can still cause serious injury.